Map of florida keys national marine sanctuary marine zones. The depth field is the depth of water in feet to the bottom in reef area, while relief is the height that the wreck rises above the bottom. Marathon diving marathon snorkeling key colony beach. When marathon fishing, you also have access to a different backcountry area. This is a great way for the whole family to enjoy a great day on the atlantic waters just off of marathon key, florida.
You can view the map in standard, satellite, terrain and earth mode. Closest to the keys is a sand ridge called white bank, covered by large beds of sea grass, with patch reefs scattered across it. Fishing the patch reefs and inshore rock piles in the lower florida keys. The great coral reefs of florida keys are the only true coral reefs in the continental waters of the u. Florida keys fishing spots florida fishing maps and gps. Fishing in the florida keys off of marathon island with american fishing co. A lively reef, some coral and plenty of fish around courtesy of the boat crew feeding them.
Visitors can feed stingrays at aquarium encounters, swim with dolphins at the dolphin research center, view sea turtles at the turtle hospital, or enjoy the great outdoors at crane point hammock and curry hammock. When you go to the patch reefs bring some hair hooks, tiny hooks. Its home to myriad tropical fish, coral, and marine animals, and its where the spanish ship ignacio sunk in the 18th century. Concrete bridge spans long key bridge 5 patch reefs. Lets take a few moments to look at just a handful of marathons best dive sites. Florida boating and angling guide series printed guides. The locations below are primarily artificial reefs and shipwrecks.
Would you associate this place or activity with entertainment. The great white heron national wildlife refuge runs to the west and north of the islands from marathon key through the big pine and key lower keys region down to key west. The fishing off of the florida keys can be amazing. Although coffins patch is fairly close to shore, it has the characteristics of an offshore patch reef system. The shallow patch reefs of the coffins patch sanctuary preservation area spa, located. When it comes to florida keys snorkeling and novice diving, coffins patch, a reef at marathon, is an amazing florida keys dive site. East washerwoman shoal and other patch reefs in hawk. Youll be fishing anywhere from 20 feet of water on the patch reefs out to a little over 100 feet for big yellowtail and other snapper and grouper. Sites with buoys in florida keys national marine sanctuary.
The overall area is composed of 6 different reefs, each sporting a predominantly different coral. The patch reefs are in hawks channel between the keys and the reef. Marathon on marathon key primarily ranges from mm 63 to mm 47 at the south end of the middle keys. Coffins patch is a great reef close to the marinas and no more then 30 feet deep, you can see small nurse sharks, barracuda, rays even eels. Click on the site name to view a map showing the location of buoys at various locations within florida keys national marine sanctuary or view a map showing all sites within the sanctuary that have buoys artificial reefs.
In this podcast i talk about how to fish the patch reefs in the florida keys. Just looking for some atlantic patch reef fishing tips that would be easy to have the ladies enjoy. The patch reefs offer awesome light tackle fishing in the winter months. Key west fishing link 801 eaton st, key west, fl 33040 305 8536036. I included detailed patch reef fishing tackle and fishing tips. Each villa has a fullsized washer and dryer and a large storage area. Coral reefs create specialized habitats that provide shelter, food, and breeding sites for numerous plants and animals. Dive concessions can be found at marathons several dive shops, resorts, hotelsmotels, and marinas. Opportunity for rentals or purchase of dive or snorkel equipment can be found at many. Also included in the show notes is a strike line charts under 3d sonar image of some good patch reef fishing spots off key largo. This map shows the coastal waters from knight key to fat deer key, including marathon and key colony beach mm 4656.
Mm3 marathon hump west hump spearfishing ok in this area. Included in this map are key west, sand key,rock key and eastern dry rocks. Offshore of the middle keys there are several examples of both outside spur and groove reefs as well as patch reefs. From a boat theyll appear as darker patches, similar to a cloud shadow. With lovely patch reefs everywhere, and numerous dive operators to choose from, plus plenty of great shore dives, marathon is a great place to escape from the cares of everyday life, for divers new and experienced alike. Coral reefs lay the foundation of a dynamic ecosystem. Some nice mangsyellowtail for dinner and stuff to keep the ladies busy catching. One of the best parts about fishing the inshore waters of south florida is the incredible system of patch reefs which hold an amazing array of species, and the best part. Gps coordinates for florida keys fishing locations such as artificial reefs and wrecks. Reef fishing charter fishing the reefs off of marathon in the florida keys is nothing but a hop, skip, and a jump from land. The wrecks and reefs hold everything from yellowtail, mangrove and mutton snapper, barracuda, sailfish, mackerel, grouper, and many more. These are the best spots to snorkel in the florida keys. There are not many spots on this planet that can offer the diverse fishing available in islamorada.
Our waterfront villas are situated right on the gulf of mexico and comfortably sleep up to 6 people with two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a queen sleeper sofa in the living room. This map also shows the locations of five public access boat ramps, three dep listed clean marinas, and one fishing piers. The florida reef consists of two ridges separated from the florida keys by the hawk channel. Grecian rocks, french reef, molasses reef, conch reef, and alligator reef are also shown. Marathons reefs offer great variety in coral formations and fish life. Coffins patch sanctuary preservation area the shallow patch reefs of the coffins patch sanctuary preservation area spa, located approximately four nautical miles off key colony beach, offer some of the best snorkeling in the middle keys. Our files contain artificial and natural reefs, buoys, ledges, rocks, shipwrecks. Coffins patch sanctuary preservation area florida keys national. Marathon is a city on knights key, boot key, key vaca, fat deer key, long point key, crawl key and grassy key islands in the middle florida keys, in monroe county, florida, in the united states. This includes ones important to fishing like spiny lobster, snapper, and grouper.
They are very common on the patch reefs and make great bait live or dead. Set in the florida keys, the islands of marathon are renowned for their beautiful white sandy beaches, crystalclear waters, and colorful barrier reefs. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 10,255. The middle keys monroe county gps coordinates reefs. Coffins patch key colony beach 2020 all you need to. During this 6hour reef and wreck trip, youll fish the calm waters of the gulf or famous reef, as well as patch reef spots along the atlantic ocean. The inshore waters and reefs along fort lauderdale, miami and all points south are great areas to enjoy inshore fishing for snapper, mackerel, grouper and many other species. Click on a location on the map to see its description and coordinates, or scroll down to the list to see all the details.
Further out to sea on the edge of the florida straits is the second ridge forming the outer reefs, covered by reefs and hard banks. Click on a location on the map to see its description and coordinates, or scroll down to the list. The map shows the areas of north palm beach, riviera beach, west palm beach, palm beach, lantana, hypoluxo, and boynton beach. The third step is to explore the inner parts of the coral patch. Fishing the reefs off marathon in the keys florida sportsman. Where to go spearfishing in the florida keys when freediving.
Boating and angling guide to the middle keys, side a little duck key to grassy key, including marathon,key colony beach, sombrero reef, and coffins patch. Patch reef fishing angling adventures florida keys. The 10 best snorkeling spots in the florida keys coastal. Google earth fishing florida keys reef overview youtube. Marathon fl and key colony beach are the two main centers in the middle key. This refuge was created in 1938 in an attempt to protect the rare and endangered great white heron which is found only in the florida keys. Our files contain artificial and natural reefs, buoys, ledges, rocks, shipwrecks, and many other types of structures that hold fish, in a 100 miles radius of marathon. Maps of the florida keys gps file downloads pdf icon pdf kml. Hop on a boat to coffins patch, four nautical miles off key colony beach, for some of the best snorkeling in the middle keys. Also shown are little lake worth, lake worth cove, munyon island, peanut island, lake worth inlet, blignham islands, hypoluxo island, and boynton inlet.
Islamorada reef site 3, 1984 120 foot barge and bridge spans. The crystalline waters of the atlantic ocean reveal a marine wilderness comprised of an extensive spurandgroove coral complex and numerous welldeveloped patch reefs. Florida is the only state in the continental united states with extensive shallow coral reef formations near its coasts. Fishing patch reefs are a good way to start out fishing in the keys,and learn the techniques of florida keys fishing. Yellowtail and mangrove snapper continue to be very active on our marathon area deep reefs and patch reefs, and the good news is that the great snapper action should continue for weeks to come. Do not fish in, or boat through this particular protected area until you know the rules and regulations so, if you get a chance to fish any of these seamounts, florida keys fishing humps, take the day off and go. Patch reefs at east washerwoman shoal and elsewhere in the middle of hawk channel off the middle and lower keys formed on its landward edge lidz et al. Usually, you can catch small bait fish like ballyhoo on the patch reefs. Snorkeling at sea may be popular in the florida keys, but exploring the waters off the shore is equally magical. Bottomfishing in the florida keys salt water sportsman. This area stretches across islands with names like long key, grassy key, crawl key, little crawl key, fat deer key, vaca key, boot key and knight key.
Mooring buoys in florida keys national marine sanctuary. Boating and angling guide to the middle keys, side b key colony beach to lower matecumbe, including marathon, key colony beach, duck key, and long key. Point locations were generated from the atlas and digitized in arcinfo at a 1. Most of the patch reefs are 5 to 15 feet deep and 100 feet or less in size, and most are accessable with a small boat.
Fishing the many different patch reefs that average 20 feet or so in depth is fantastic. We would like to show you a description here but the site wont allow us. These data were created in conjunction with the atlas of artificial reefs in florida 4th edition of the florida sea grant program. Bringing a few of my semi experienced fishing buddies, along with all our wivesgirlfriends. Florida keys fishing spots with over 500 fishing spots with gps coordinates for inshore patch reef fishing and offshore fishing spots in the florida keys from key largo, islamorada, marathon, big pine key, key west and all keys locations for reef fishing, bottom fishing and trolling. Patch reef fishing 2 miles offshore from marathon key, fl. The reef at marathon is a unique resort in the florida keys. Indistinguishable from the rest of hawk channel in aerial photos, this trough is the second of two on the inner shelf that constitute new coral reef nuclei in the florida reef record. Popular shipwrecks, reefs, and wrecks of the florida keys. Ballyhoo are small beaked bait fish, ranging from about 7 14 inches long. The middle keys gps numbers include florida bay on the bay side and the atlantic ocean out to the straights of florida including long key to marathon between longitude 80 45 and 81 09. Fishing the patch reefs and inshore rock piles in the lower florida keys can be a lot of fun in the winter and can yield some tasty fish. Middle keys reefs and shipwrecks florida go fishing. This is a great way for the whole family to enjoy a great day on the atlantic waters just off of.
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